Occupational Risks & Exposures: Silica
The dangers of silica have been known for decades, and strong evidence shows that the previous permissible exposure limits do not adequately protect worker health. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is amending its existing standards for occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The new rule significantly reduces the amount of silica dust that the worker is exposed to on the job.
OSHA’s current permissible exposure limits for silica are more than 40 years old. They are based on research from the 1960s and earlier that do not reflect more recent scientific evidence. The new rule gives a permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air (50 μg/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average in all industries covered by the rule.
Employers are required under the rule to:
- limit access to high exposure areas
- provide training
- provide respiratory protection when controls are not enough to limit exposure
- provide written exposure control plans and measure exposures in some cases
- offer medical examinations to highly exposed workers
Apex works with Employers to identify Health Hazards, provide advice on Compliance and also provides Medical Surveillance for exposed workers. Learn more here. The new standards take effect on June 23, 2016 and depending on industry, employers will have 1 to 5 years to comply with the requirements.
The most effective way to eliminate the hazard is to eliminate the silica. When this is NOT an option, let Apex be your trusted advisor!
Sources:
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3683.pdf
https://www.osha.gov/silica/index.html